[HGR Frucci]

My new frame is coming next week, so to anybody that's got one of these yet:

A - Is the floater "optional". Can you take it off and run without it?

B - Anybody know the rear hub width? I've heard 150mm, but that makes me wonder how the floater is set up and if its actually running a 135mm Ringle? I saw some threads about the floater but none of them went in this direction.

I'm just getting ready to lace a rear wheel and I was looking for some info before I start. I'd hate to have to tear it apart after I start because I didn't ask now...

Thanks in advance!

Frucci

 

[Hulkamaniac]

A - Is the floater "optional". Can you take it off and run without it?

B - Anybody know the rear hub width? I've heard 150mm, but that makes me wonder how the floater is set up and if its actually running a 135mm Ringle? I saw some threads about the floater but none of them went in this direction.

A - I don't think it's optional. I asked the Kona rep here and he seemed to think the same. Looking at the pics in their catalog, I see no provisions for a rear caliper mount anywhere other than on the floating brake arm assembly.

B - I believe it's 150mm spacing with the 135mm ringle lawwill hub.

 

[HGR Frucci]

Unfortunately not what I wanted to hear - not so much because I don't want to try the floater, but I was hoping to use the hub I have (and like).

I put an email into Therapy Components earlier today and am waiting to hear back. I was hoping they might know something.

I'd seen some pictures that looked like you could still bolt an adapter to the stay, but it was hard to tell. I'm sitting on a 150mm Hadley that I was going to lace up, but now I'll just have to wait till I know for sure.

Thanks for the info - and if anybody else knows more, please feel free to chime in.

 

[shock]

Hi, Brian from Therapy here. The floaters we supply to the race team are for the 150mm Ringle hub. This is not just a 135 mm hub with a floater on the end, the hub shell is wider.

At the moment, I'm not 100% sure about the oe floater, as unfortunately, it's not ours, but I could just about guarantee that it won't work with the Hadley hub without some modification. Kona is sending me one of theirs to take a look at, but I won't have it for another week or so.

We do make one that would work on that bike with the Hadley hub, but it wouldn't use any of the oe parts.

Oh, and no email as of this moment...

 

[HGR Frucci]

Thanks for the response Shock! I sent the email to the forks@therapycomponents.com address, but either way - you still get the jist of my question.

Sounds like what I have won't work with what's coming.

What does your assembly that would work with my 150mm Hadley run for? Like I said, I'd really like to use that hub over the Sun.

 

[stabus primonus]

Shock .. where the hxxx can I buy a brake floater for my '03 stab primo? Can I get one direct and how much? Having some trouble finding one. Thanks.

 

[punkassean]

Call Kona directly and ask them. I'm sure they can fill you in...

 

[teamkranzelbike]

I have one right in front of me. The full floater is standard and can not be taken off, ther are no disc tabs on the frame. I had the same questions about the hub, so I called Kona. The hub is a 150mm Ringle. the end spacer comes off and the floater arm takes up the difference.

 

[HGR Frucci]

Cool - sounds like we're halfway there. Now I'll just call Kona and find out if the Hadley will work.

I'm guessing it will (with a shim or something) depending on how the hub interface is different from the Ringle.

All good info - see this place can generate some valuable input!

Thanks!

JF

 

[ioscope]

Dude, buy the stinky Supreme, way better deal. Same frame, most of the parts too. You could buy the stinky, sell the parts as that are better that you would get with the Stab, buy custom parts, and have a way better bike in the same price range.

 

[cogs]

Would a 04 Deemax fit the rear? It is a 135mm hub. I haven't seen a Stinky Supreme yet see how this rear works. Thanks..

 

[vitox]

that floater is REALLY weird, if its not removable id suggest try-before-buy.

i toyed around with the one on fabiens bike and it felt weird, then a friend got a stinky supreme and he`s not really sold on it. one thing is for certain, no back brake when landing anything over curb size, please.

 

[HGR Frucci]

Dude, buy the stinky Supreme, way better deal. Same frame, most of the parts too. You could buy the stinky, sell the parts as that are better that you would get with the Stab, buy custom parts, and have a way better bike in the same price range.

I don't know if this was directed to me or the other guy, but I ended up with just a frameset. I had all of the other parts I needed (and that I preferred) so I was pretty much set.

I did give the Stinky Sup. some consideration because I did like the color (and realized it was the same bike), but the Stab Sup. frame got ordered first - so I'm taking that. No big deal.

At least on the Stab Sup. I know my wife and son will be able to see me coming from a LONG way away . Everybody knows that non-stealth, Euro racer colors are coming back for '05!

JF

 

[teamkranzelbike]

The floater has 2 different mounting options. the lower one causes the rear to squat when the brakes are applied. the upper one is mre neutral. if you have no experience with a floater it s kind of weird. the brakes dont lock up as easly, but you have more control, kind of the same feeling as anti lock brakes on a car. I like mine a lot. I have a bad habit of draging the brakes in corners and the rough stuff. the floater keeps the suspension active insted of rampin up and getting all rigid feeling. Just takes a little time to get used to it.

 

[zane]

So there actually are 2 positions to mount it? That was the only thing that had me concerned about the frame, that low mount for the floater gives the bike some FUNNY handling.

 

[cogs]

Does anyone have a picture of this?

 

[zane]

Does anyone have a picture of this?

I could be a search nazi and tell you to search for it, this is the first thing I found when I did:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94319&highlight=kona+2005

 

[cogs]

Sorry for the grammer error. Instead of the word "this" I should have said:

"Does anyone have a good picture of the mount and brake assy you are referring to?"

I know what the bike looks like but thanks for the link!

 

[shock]

Shock .. where the hxxx can I buy a brake floater for my '03 stab primo? Can I get one direct and how much? Having some trouble finding one. Thanks.

Stab Primo floaters are the same price as most of our floaters, retail US$295.00.

Any shop can order from us, but if you can't find one that will, give us a call with a visa or mc. 765 528-2138

 

[shock]

Cool - sounds like we're halfway there. Now I'll just call Kona and find out if the Hadley will work.

I'm guessing it will (with a shim or something) depending on how the hub interface is different from the Ringle.

All good info - see this place can generate some valuable input!

Thanks!

JF

I think the problem you'll run into is the the Ringle hub spacer (that comes off to make room for the floater) is quite wide, about .77 inches (19.5 mm)from the dropout surface to the inner bearing. The floater is made to be the same width, so it replaces the spacer exactly.

With the Hadleyhub,we make a special axle to shorten the brake side to make room for the floater, but that width is only about .600 inch (15.2 mm). So the stock floater would be too wide to fit in that gap, and you wouldn't be able to get the caliper centered over the disc.

With our floater, there is an interchangable piece to adapt to the difference in width, but I don't believe that's the case with the oe system. You might be able to modify it, I'm not sure.

 

[shock]

that floater is REALLY weird, if its not removable id suggest try-before-buy.

i toyed around with the one on fabiens bike and it felt weird, then a friend got a stinky supreme and he`s not really sold on it. one thing is for certain, no back brake when landing anything over curb size, please.

vitox, I'm curious as to what you mean by "REALLY weird". Do mean the bike feels weird when hitting the brakes? Is that with the rod in the lower position?

And what do you mean by"no back brake when landing anything over curb size"?

 

[shock]

The floater has 2 different mounting options. the lower one causes the rear to squat when the brakes are applied. the upper one is mre neutral. if you have no experience with a floater it s kind of weird. the brakes dont lock up as easly, but you have more control, kind of the same feeling as anti lock brakes on a car. I like mine a lot. I have a bad habit of draging the brakes in corners and the rough stuff. the floater keeps the suspension active insted of rampin up and getting all rigid feeling. Just takes a little time to get used to it.

And which position are you using, upper or lower?

I posted about the geometry Fabien was using last year on rm, with a discussion about the "unconventional geometry" of the lower position and what it would do. I prefer the upper, neutral position, but Fabien wanted the squat, and he won the world championship with it, so I'm not gonna argue with him.

However, he also has his suspension (front and rear) setup quite "unique" to work in concert with the squat floater, so I'm not sure any one but him would feel comfortable on his bike (at least right away).

I give Fabien a lot of credit for being creative in his approach to bike setup, and being able to back it up. But I still feel the neutral position is better for most riders.

 

[thaflyinfatman]

And what do you mean by"no back brake when landing anything over curb size"?

I think he's saying that you can't drag/grab the rear brake when you land any drops/jumps, because of the excessive squat it causes.

 

[vitox]

vitox, I'm curious as to what you mean by "REALLY weird". Do mean the bike feels weird when hitting the brakes? Is that with the rod in the lower position?

And what do you mean by"no back brake when landing anything over curb size"?

well the latter is a quote from fabiens mechanic, he demonstrated to me and a couple of other guys how easy the rear end is when applying the rear brake and landing, it probably can be sorted out by compensating (heavily) with front weight bias, not a major problem i believe in the first place, but the bike handles quite different.

"really weird" well thats just what i felt, as in that it does something - I atleast - don expect to happen when you apply the back brake, i mean it does what its meant to do, functions as a squat device.

<edit> in overall i wouldnt like to be understood as that that (no)floater is a negative thing, its just that i think it makes the bike do weird stuff and that i cant see how it would mean a net benefit, but that is being said by someone that hasnt got any significant time on it.